Machine for producing raised printing



Feb. 22, 1938. R. WOODWARD MACHINE FOR PRODUCING RAISED PRINTING Filed June 4, 1935 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Ram; MODM/PD .INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1938. R WOODWARD 2,109,205

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING RAISED PRINTING Filed June 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2* ATTORNE Patented Feb. 22, 1938 2.109.205 'mcnma Fon rnonocnvo musan PRINTING aaiphwooawera, Leicester, Mass.

Application June 4, 1935, Serial No. 24,899

Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in a machine for distributing finely divided powders upon printed sheets on which the printed design is still moist, so that the powder will adhere 5 thereto and the design will be raised or embossed above the plane of the paper.

In producing printing of this character the powder or raising compound is applied to the printed sheets of paper, or other material, while the ink or size previously applied by any suitable printing machine is still wet, in order that the compound may adhere to the printed design. The powder which does not adhere to the moist ink or size is then removed and-the printed sheets, with the adhering compound thereon are heated to a temperature sufllcient to dry the ink and in some cases to fuse the powder into a solid mass, thereby providing an embossed eifect on. the sheet. One of the objects of the invention is to provide 20 for the application of the raising compound to printed sheets while in motion from the printing machine, and the device of the invention is arranged to accommodate extremely large sheets.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device by which the raising'compound is blown across the printed sheets by an air jet for a uniform distribution of the compound over the surface of the printed material, and the device providesfor controlling the amount of compounds applied for determining the extent of the embossing. The surplus compound after being removed from the printed matter is returned to the source of supply and a further object of the invention is the removal of dust from this re- 35 turned compound to avoid .the accumulation of dust in said compound. The machine also contemplates the alternative discharge of the unused compound to an independent container, as when the device is to be cleaned, in readiness to 40 use with a raising compound of a different character.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 2- Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 3.

view of a part Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially along the line 9-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view substantially along the broken line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the 5 container of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9. is a horizontal sectional view along the line 9-9 of Fig. l.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view substantially along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view substantially along the line llil of Fig. 9.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device of the invention comprises a box-like frame I supported by legs 2 and 3 at opposite ends thereof. The frame I has an integral hood 4 connected to said frame at one edge thereof, as at 5, the hood extending in cantilever fashion in parallel relation to the frame. The frame has a plurality of transversely extending rollers 6, 'l and 8, Fig. 3, which support a belt 9 of wire mesh fabric, the latter moving in the direction of the arrow l0, Fig. 3. The supporting shafts H for each of the rollers 6, I and' 8 extend through the side walls of the frame and have positioned on the outer ends thereof, at one side of the frame, sprockets l2 which are all engaged by a chain It for a rotation of the several rolls in unison. At the end opposite to the sprocket l2 the shaft 'H for the roller 6 has a second sprocket M, Fig. 1, engaging with a chain I5 extending from a sprocket I6 on a countershaft ll joumalled in a lug l8, Fig. 2 provided by the leg 2. The shaft I1 is driven from a driving motor l9 mounted on a bracket l9 on the leg 2. The rotating shaft of the motor "has a sprocket 2i connected by a chain 22 to a sprocket 23 on a countershaft 24 journaled at opposite ends in lugs 25 and 26 provided by the leg 2. A second sprocket 21 on the shaft 24 is connected by a chain 28 to a sprocket 29 on the shaft I! so that when the motor I9 is in operation, the fabric belt 9 is driven by the rotation of the rollers 6, and 8.

Printed sheets of material with the ink or size thereon still moist are directed onto the moving belt 9 beneath the hood 4 by suitable feeding means, as by a plurality of parallel moving belts 30 supported by a set of parallel rollers 8|, only one of which is shown, see Fig. 9. The belts 30 have their top surfaces moving in the same direction as the upper side of the belt 9 and carry the printed sheets from the printing machine, not 6 shown, directly to the powder distributing device.

The shaft 3 I for the roller 3| adjacent the frame I may be journaled in lugs 32 extending from the frame.

Powder is applied to the still moist ink or size by an air jet provided by a blower 33, the shaft 34 of which is connected directly to the shaft 20 of the motor. The blower is supported by the bracket I! on the leg 2 and has its discharge pipe 35 connected by a conduit 36 to a nozzle Ifl positioned in a chamber II, see Fig. 10. .The discharge opening I! of the chamber ll is connected to a hood 40. extending diagonally across the belt 9 and having its opposite lower edges spaced slightly above said belt, see Fig. 3, the air passing through the nozzle 41 being given a rotary motion by helical vanes 31'. Powder is supplied to the chamber 38 from a supply chamber 4| through a measuring device consisting of a roll 42 having intersecting passages defined by protuberances 48 thereon, said roll 42 being positively driven at a predetermined rate. The roll 42 is positioned in a portion of the bracket 42' which connects the chamber 4| to the chamber 38, and the amount of powder discharged through the opening 43 from the chamber 4| is controlled by the rate oi rotation of the roll 41 which may be varied as desired.

The roll 42 is rotated through a multi-step pulley 44 on the shaft 45 on which said roll is mounted, a belt 46 providing a connection between the pulley 44 and a corresponding multistep pulley 41 on the shaft ii for the roller 8, the pulley 41 being positioned adjacent to the sprocket I2. In vertical alinement with the roll 42 is a rotatable brush 48 carried by a shaft 49 journaled in the bracket 42, the brush agitating the powder to prevent clogging of the measuring roll. The brush and roll are connected for rotation in unison by a chain 5| passing over sprockets 52 and It on the brush and roll shafts respectively.

As the printed material passes beneath the powder hood the blast of air from the nozzle 31 carries powder from the opening 43' into the hood which serves to distribute the powder acrou the material for uniformly coating the wet ink or size with the powder. The powder is retained beneath the hood 40 by air Jets from elongated nozzles 54 and 55 extending transversely of the belt 9 in parallel relation to the hood. As shown in Fig. 3, the air Jets from these nozzles are directed at an angle toward the edges of the hood and aid in preventing the escape of powder from beneath said hood. An additional nozzle 58 parallel to the nozzle II and spaced therefrom also aids in agitating the powder lying on the printed material and, being directed at an angle to the belt 9, blows the loose powder on the material in a direction opposite to the movement of the printed material. At the delivery end of the belt 8 is provided a transverse nozzle 51 directed vertically downward to remove the loose powder fromthe printed matter before it passes from beneath the main hood 4. The several air nozzles are connected to the blower 32 by a conduit 58 which extends upwardly from the blower and has a horizontal portion. 5. to which the several nozzles 54, 55, it and 51 are all connected through short pipes 54, 54', 58' and 51', respectively, see Fig. 2. a

The powder suspended in the air beneath the main hood 4 is prevented from escaping by depending flanges I and Cl carried by the underside of said hood. These flanges are located ad iacen't to opposite ends of the belt a and extend downwardly almost into engagement with the upper pass of the belt 8. Additional diagonally extending flanges 62 and 63 are positioned adjacent to the nozzle 54 andbetween the nomles ll and it respectively to aid in controlling the movements of the air currents and the suspended powder beneath the large hood.

. The printed sheets with the powder coating adhering thereto pass from beneath the hood 4 onto a belt 64, the upper path of which is moving in the same direction as the upper pass of the belt 8. The belt 44 passes through a drying oven 85 ct suitable construction, said belt being supported by suitable rollers Bl, only one of which is shown. A horizontal platel'l, Fig. 3, secured to the frame I, has its upper surface in substantial alinement with the upper passes of the belts l' and 84 to support the printed sheets between said belts.

The powder beneath the hood 4, which does not adhere to the ink or size on the printed sheets as they are carried through the device, passes through the belt 8 or is carried around with said belt and falls off from the underside thereof into a funnel-shaped collecting chamber 88 positioned beneath the frame i. The lower end of the collecting chamber is connected by a pipe 69 to the upper end of the chamber 4|, the pipe entering said chamber substantially tangential thereto, as shown in Fig. l, to provide for a centrifugal action of the air and suspended powder directed into the chamber. This centrifugal action results in a discharge of the powder suspended in the air against the side walls of said chamber. An airtight cap III on the chamber 4| has a short connection II to a porous bag 12, into which the air from the chamber 4| is directed. The bag I! removes any dust carried by the air, this dust. being much lighter than the powder used in the machine, remaining in suspension instead of being separated from the air in the chamber 4|. A bracket 13 on the hood 4 aids in supporting the bag I2 in desired position. As shown in Fig. 4, the discharge pipe 35 of the blower 33 is connected by a short conduit 14 to a nozzle 15 positioned in a bracket 15' at the base of thecollecting chamber. The discharge end of the nozzle I5 is positioned at the contracted entrance to the pipe 69 and as air passes through said nozzle it picks up the powder from the lower end, of the chamber 68 and clinics it through the pipe I. to the supply chamber 4|. The nozzle 15 has a threaded flange 18 for adjusting its position relative to the mouth of the pipe 69.

The pipe 69 has a branch conduit 11, Fig. 7, connecting said pipe to a chamber I8, the latter having a screened top I! which prevents escape of powder therefrom though allowing the escape of air and small particles of dust: Butterfly valves Ill and II in the pipe 69 and conduit II respectively, have actuating arms 82 and 43 connected together by a link 54, to Fig. 1, to permit the amount of air passing into the supply chamber 4| or to the chamber 18 to be controlled, the arrangement being such that one valve is entirely open when the other is closed. Thus when the .device of the invention is to be cleaned, as in preparation for the use of a different powder, the valve It is closed and the unused powder is then directed to and collected in the chamber ll, the latter being removably supported on a bracket on the leg I. It will be noted that the collecting chamber 68 is removable for cleaning and to this end the opposite upper edges of said chamber have flanges 86, Figs. 4 and 5, forming ways slidable on flanges 81 provided by the legs 2 and 3. The frame I is supported above and out of engagement with the flanges 86. In removing the chamber the pipe 69 and conduit 14 are disconnected from the bracket I5, to which they are releasably connected in any desired manner.

For accommodating large sheets having only a small amount of printed matter, the machine is provided with a supplementary frame 88, Figs. 1 and 9, which has upwardly extending lugs 89 at opposite side edges thereof for supporting a plurality of parallelly arranged rollers 99, the shafts 9| of the rollers being journaled in the lugs 89 The'rollers 99 are in alinement with the rollers 6, I and 8 respectively, and are positively driven from the shaft II through a chain 92 which passes over sprocket 93 on the shaft I1, and a sprocket 94 on one of the shafts 9|. The opposite end of the middle shaft 9|, and also the other shafts 9|, have sprockets 95, Fig. 9, engageable with a chain 96 which provides for rotation of the several rolls 99 in unison. Bars 91 carried by parts of the frame 88, substantially in the plane of the upper surfaces of the rollers 99, support the printed material between successive rollers.

For positive movement of the printed sheets each roller 99 has directly thereabove a roller 98, the rollers 99 and 98 in each case being spaced apart to receive the printed sheets therebetween. 'I'he shafts 99 for the rollers 98 are supported at one end in brackets I99 on the hood 4 and at the other end in the lugs 89. Cooperating gears I9I on the shafts 9| and 99 provide for rotation of each pair of rolls in unison and in opposite direction for advancing the printed sheets therebetween.

The powder carried in suspension beneath the hood 4 is prevented from escape from the side of the hood adjacent to the auxiliary rollers 99 and 98 by a brush I92 and a flexible depending blade I93, both carried by a bar I94 vertically adjustable on the side wall of the hood 4. For this purpose the hood 4 has a plurality of vertically extending slots I95, Fig. 11, through which extend studs I98 engaging with the bar I94.

For cleaning of the device, in addition to the air system above described, the hood has hinged covers I91 and I98 which, as best shown in Fig. 3, open substantially the entire top of the hood to permit access thereto. Said covers are normally held in closed position by their own weight to a container.

unused compound to thesupply chamber any ties of dust in the compound.

dust mixed therewith is removed to prevent the gradual accumulation of objectionable quanti- I claim: y

1. In a device of the class described, a chamber for powder having a discharge opening therein, means for feeding a predetermined quantity of powder through said opening, means for advancing printed sheets through the device, an air supply,-and means for directing air from said supply past the discharge opening and over the printed sheets in a direction substantially parallel thereto, said air carrying the powder in suspension, and said directing means including a hood extending transversely of the sheet advancing means and having an opening in the underside thereof directly above and spaced from. a portion of said advancing means extending diagonally across the sheets for uniformly distributing the powder suspended in the air over the sheets.

2. In a device of the classdescribed, a chamber for powder having a discharge opening therein, means for feeding a predetermined quantity of powder through said opening, means for advancing printed sheets through the device, an air supply, and means for directing air from said supply past the discharge opening and onto the printed sheets, said air carrying the powder in suspension onto said sheets, said directing means including a hood for directing the powder suspended in the air against the printed sheets, said hood extending diagonally across the sheet advancing means, and nozzles connected to the air supply and directed toward the edges of the hood for retaining the powder beneath said hood.

3. In a device of the class described, means for advancing printed sheets through the device,

means for distributing measured quantities of powder on said sheets, means for collecting powder not adhering to the sheets, and means for returning said collected powder to-the distributing means or to a separate collection chamber selectively, said last means including an air supply and means for blowing powder from said collecting means to the distributing means or the separate collection chamber, selectively.

4. In a device of the class described, a chamber for powder having a discharge opening therein, means for feeding powder through said opening, means for advancing printed sheets through the device, an air supply, and means for directing air from said supply past the discharge opening and onto the printed sheets, said air carrying the powder in suspension onto said sheets, said directing means including a hood for directing the powder suspended in the air against the printed sheet, said hood extending transversely of the sheet advancing means, and nozzles connected to the air supply and directed toward the edges of the hood for retaining the powder beneath said hood.

5. In a device of the class described, a chamber for powder having a discharge opening therein, means for feeding. powder through said'opening, means for advancing printed sheets through the device, an air supply, means for directing air from said supply past the discharge opening and directlyonto the printed sheets, said air carrying the powder in suspension onto said sheets, a collecting chamber beneaththe sheet advancing means, means for directing air from said supply through a portion ofthe collecting chamber for carrying powder therein to the supply chamber, nozzles positioned above the sheet advancing means, and a connection between the air supply and the nozzles for supplying air thereto, said connection being located between the air supply and the connection to the collecting chamber.

' RALPH WOODWARD. 

